Maine @ JMU

[BDKJMU]

Well, this one is for at least a share of 1st place in the CAA.

Already are talking it up on the JMU board:
http://boards.caazone.com/showthread.php?113311-Maine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/8500/St ... /maine.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/8500/St ... 11/jmu.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

Last year JMU started 4-1 and then finished 6-5, missing the playoffs. IF JMU can get by Maine, that would put the Dukes at 5-1/3-0. Should definitely win the last 2 games at home, Nova and URI. That would mean JMU could lose all 3 remaining road games to ODU, UNH and UMass, and still get in at 7-4.

[89Hen]

ODU fans in 3, 2, 1...

[JmuSkinsfan]

Going into the season I was one of those JMU fans that said I expected us to go 9-2/8-3. I also thought JMU/UD/WM would be atop the conference with UNH/Umass/UR in the next tier on the playoff bubble. Obviously a lot can change from pre-season polls and expectations, and the conference is clearly a little different this year than in years past. I stated before the season that the WM game was the only sure "loss" for JMU and UR was a win (with a lot of toss-ups) ... and after the season started ... I changed my tune and said toss-up for both. JMU came away in both with pretty convincing wins, but now we aren't really sure how good WM and UR are. If I had to guess, I'd expect both to be around 7-4 when the season ends and on the playoff bubble ... so those are still wins to be proud of.

Now, looking at the remaining schedule, I see 4 sure-wins: Maine, UMass, URI, Villanova. Umass is always tough to play at home but they appear to be down. Nova and URI both at home should not be too hard. Maine is borderline toss-up but JMU usually has their number, and the game being at home should really help. I think JMU's defense really had their coming out this weekend .... holding anyone to 121 total yards is pretty insane (with 7 sacks) ... but a ranked UR team that just put up 43 points on UNH is impressive, no matter what holes they have.

I have moved ODU to a toss-up. I think I'm coming around to them being a contendor. They could easily go 7-4 and be on the bubble for the playoffs, and it being at ODU scares me ... but I still think JMU should be favored there. I'll say toss-up, regardless. I think JMU will be favored against UNH, but playing up there is always a tough call. They beat UR in a shootout ... so if we can keep UR in check I imagine we can do the same with UNH ... I'll say toss-up.

I no longer see any "likely losses" on JMU's schedule. In fact, I think JMU will be favored in every game from here on out. I see at least 8-3 ... but would not be surprised at all by 10-1 ... something I would have said "no way" to a few weeks ago even with my pre-season optimism.

As we all know, though, there really aren't any sure wins in the CAA. A few years ago JMU was 8-2 in the final game of the season staring home field in the face before losing to Hofstra in the final game. JMU does, however, usually beat the teams they're supposed to beat with a few exceptions. I feel uncomfortable saying JMU has 4 "sure wins" on the schedule, but when I say that I mean they should be heavy favorites. But, after all, that is why they play the games ... I'm just slightly more optomistic after two convincing wins over top 10 teams.

[BDKJMU]

Going into the season I was one of those JMU fans that said I expected us to go 9-2/8-3. I also thought JMU/UD/WM would be atop the conference with UNH/Umass/UR in the next tier on the playoff bubble. Obviously a lot can change from pre-season polls and expectations, and the conference is clearly a little different this year than in years past. I stated before the season that the WM game was the only sure "loss" for JMU and UR was a win (with a lot of toss-ups) ... and after the season started ... I changed my tune and said toss-up for both. JMU came away in both with pretty convincing wins, but now we aren't really sure how good WM and UR are. If I had to guess, I'd expect both to be around 7-4 when the season ends and on the playoff bubble ... so those are still wins to be proud of.

Now, looking at the remaining schedule, I see 4 sure-wins: Maine, UMass, URI, Villanova. Umass is always tough to play at home but they appear to be down. Nova and URI both at home should not be too hard. Maine is borderline toss-up but JMU usually has their number, and the game being at home should really help. I think JMU's defense really had their coming out this weekend .... holding anyone to 121 total yards is pretty insane (with 7 sacks) ... but a ranked UR team that just put up 43 points on UNH is impressive, no matter what holes they have.

I have moved ODU to a toss-up. I think I'm coming around to them being a contendor. They could easily go 7-4 and be on the bubble for the playoffs, and it being at ODU scares me ... but I still think JMU should be favored there. I'll say toss-up, regardless. I think JMU will be favored against UNH, but playing up there is always a tough call. They beat UR in a shootout ... so if we can keep UR in check I imagine we can do the same with UNH ... I'll say toss-up.

I no longer see any "likely losses" on JMU's schedule. In fact, I think JMU will be favored in every game from here on out. I see at least 8-3 ... but would not be surprised at all by 10-1 ... something I would have said "no way" to a few weeks ago even with my pre-season optimism.

As we all know, though, there really aren't any sure wins in the CAA. A few years ago JMU was 8-2 in the final game of the season staring home field in the face before losing to Hofstra in the final game. JMU does, however, usually beat the teams they're supposed to beat with a few exceptions. I feel uncomfortable saying JMU has 4 "sure wins" on the schedule, but when I say that I mean they should be heavy favorites. But, after all, that is why they play the games ... I'm just slightly more optomistic after two convincing wins over top 10 teams.

I only see 2 as you put it "sure fire" wins: Nova aand URI both @ JMU. UMass on the road 11/19 will likely be just as tough, or almost as tough, as ODU in Norfolk. and UNH will be a tough road trip. Maine will be a tough home game.

As of now JMU should be favored in their remaining 6 games, but 4 of those as of now would be favored by less than a TD.

Thorpe who is practicing right now will, or maybe I should say could, become available the week of URI.(I imagine he might have some conditions to meet). I hope MM has a serious dilemma come early Nov about who to play at QB, because that will mean that Jace is playing well. That would be a good problem to have.

Right now JMU could finish anywhere from 6-5 to 10-1. Injuries are always a big wildcard. I called 9-2 in Aug on the Zone, and right now I'm sticking too it.

[JmuSkinsfan]

Right now JMU could finish anywhere from 6-5 to 10-1. Injuries are always a big wildcard. I called 9-2 in Aug on the Zone, and right now I'm sticking too it.

Agreed. I called 9-2/8-3. In those scenarios I had JMU losing to WM, UNC and then another tough conference game somewhere along the line. JMU beat WM, and UR may have been that "tough team" that I counted as a win that was harder than expected in pre-season. I'm going to stick with my originial prediction ... but instead say no worse than 8-3 and 10-1 is certainly a reality ... much more so than pre-season. If you had told me pre-season we would be sitting at 4-1 right now with our lone loss to UNC I'd feel very good.

Maine will be a challenge. If we can handle Maine at home, I like our chances against URI and Nova at home .. which would put us at 7-4 and in the playoffs even if we lost our 3 remaining away games to ODU, UNH and UMass.

JMU has always played UNH well up there ... and if their play this season is any indication ... JMU should handle them again. They put up a lot of points but give up a lot as well. UR was putting up a lot of points, and we held them to 120 total yards. I like our chances.

[BDKJMU]

Congrats to Maine. Was a hell of a game. The better team yesterday by a hair won.

Despite whatever sandbagging MaineJeff tries to do, that is a very good Maine team and Cosgrove is a good coach. Maine after a huge win at home vs UD follows that uyp with bringing their A game on a tough road trip. Me thinks they'll have a crappy game and lose to someone, but will finish 9-2/7-1 & win the CAA AQ. Probably their best team since their 02' 11-3 qtr final team.

[BDKJMU]

"........But it was backup quarterback Chris Treister who was featured on Sportscenter’s Top 10 plays Saturday night. The senior – who lost out on the starting job to Smith in the preseason – ran in the 2-point conversion out of an unusual formation to stun the Dukes, who had won four straight.

After Smith found a wide-open Jason Perillo for an 8-yard touchdown – on a play dubbed “Yahtzee” – Maine came out for the 2-point try. It lined up with seven players to the left, two on the right and a center and quarterback alone in the middle of the formation.

The quarterback, Treister, took the underhanded snap from Perillo and – finding all his passing options covered – raced to the right. JMU’s Vidal Nelson and Dean Marlowe converged on him from opposite sides, with Nelson delivering a hit that sent the diving Treister spiraling through the air helicopter style.

When he crash-landed a yard or two later, it was in the end zone with the winning score.

“As soon as I decided to tuck the ball and run it, I wasn’t letting anybody stop me,” Treister said. “Whether it was Ray Lewis back there or anybody, I was getting in the end zone.”

JMU coach Mickey Matthews said he didn’t call a timeout before the play because his players had prepared for the situation in practice during the week and aligned correctly when the Black Bears took the field.

“When you’re spread out like that, there are so many different things that they can do,” Matthews said. “We had time to call timeout, but we lined up correctly. Just the kid made a great play.”

In fact, JMU linebacker Stephon Robertson estimated the Dukes worked on defending that formation “10-15 times” during the week.

“We knew they were going to try to get us with something tricky,” said Robertson, who led JMU’s defense with 12 tackles. “It was a matter of when. Towards the end of the game, that’s when it happened.”

Cosgrove – a 1978 UM alum – said he didn’t necessarily think the call would take JMU by surprise, but thought the play – which he suggested to special teams coordinator Kevin Cahill – would work.

“We do a lot of that. Everybody knows,” said Cosgrove, whose cell phone kept ringing as he addressed the media, drawing smiles from Smith and Treister, who were seated next to him. “We do a lot of special teams tricks. I know they practiced against it. I think they were lined up properly for it. This guy just made a play.”

Maine ran a similar style play out of a punt formation in last year’s 14-10 loss. In 2008, Cosgrove gambled on a pair of special teams plays, recovering a surprise on-side kick but failing to come up with a sky kick in a 10-10 game that ultimately gave JMU the field position in needed to secure a 24-10 win......."
http://www.dnronline.com/article/jmu_maine_game" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

1st downs: JMU 20, Maine 21
Rushing: JMU 304, Maine 90
Passing JMU 98, Maine 295
Total yards JMU 402, Maine 385

JMU looked better 1st half when JMU led 14-7, Maine looked better 2nd half. It was that close. Only one turnover, Dae'Quan Scott fumble in the 2nd half in JMU territory that Maine didn't take advantage of.

Wasn't a sellout- announced attendance of 24,023.

JMU's Jordan Anderson started out the season as the #2 RB behind Dae'quan Scott. Anderson looked like JMU's best runner against UNC. CCSU game fumbled on the 1, got demoted to 3rd string, no carries vs Liberty and W&M. Vs UR Scott goes down and Anderson in the 2nd HALF rushes for 162. Against Maine rushes for 212. Thats 374 yards in just 3 halves.

Meanwhile, Scott fumbles in the 2nd half and doesn't get another carry....

http://www.jmusports.com/fls/14400/stat ... u-1008.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[∞∞∞]

You can tell where Coach Wilder gets his affinity for special teams from.

[JmuSkinsfan]

Three JMU observations from this one ... 2 VERY big positives and one pretty big negative.

Negative first: JMU defense is good, especially against the run, but the pass defense is weak. I know starting safety Jakari Jackson was out, but JMU has trouble containing mobile QBs. Against Aaron Corp last week, JMU was able to pressure and get 7 sacks. Liberty's Mike Brown and Maine's QB are both mobile and not getting pressure killed our secondary.

Positive #1: Jordan Anderson ... wow. 374 yards in the last 3 halves ... he needs to be our starter. Even better, Dae'Quann Scott and Jajuan Latney are both amazing as well ... and Scott and Anderson are sophs while Latney is a frosh.

Positive #2: I really felt as though Jace Edwards stepped up and took over the game. He uses his athleticism and strong arm to really make plays. I feel like with or without Thorpe ... JMU now has a true leader at QB for the time being ... and as a freshman, that makes me even happier.

[BDKJMU]

Three JMU observations from this one ... 2 VERY big positives and one pretty big negative.

Negative first: JMU defense is good, especially against the run, but the pass defense is weak. I know starting safety Jakari Jackson was out, but JMU has trouble containing mobile QBs. Against Aaron Corp last week, JMU was able to pressure and get 7 sacks. Liberty's Mike Brown and Maine's QB are both mobile and not getting pressure killed our secondary.

Positive #1: Jordan Anderson ... wow. 374 yards in the last 3 halves ... he needs to be our starter. Even better, Dae'Quann Scott and Jajuan Latney are both amazing as well ... and Scott and Anderson are sophs while Latney is a frosh.

Positive #2: I really felt as though Jace Edwards stepped up and took over the game. He uses his athleticism and strong arm to really make plays. I feel like with or without Thorpe ... JMU now has a true leader at QB for the time being ... and as a freshman, that makes me even happier.

Agreed Skins,

I don't want to make an excuse about losing Jackson at FS, as #26 rJr Ryan Smith was neck and neck with Jackson in summer camp for the starting FS spot. JMU has been bad to horrible vs the pass in 7 of 12 halves (both halves vs UNC, 2nd half vs CCSU, Liberty, W&M, and both halves vs Maine. Only game that was solid against the pass was vs UR. MM harped on that during the post game. Seaid it numerous times have to get better against the pass. Said if don't wouldn't win another game..Shocking thing is have 4 of 5 (now 3 of 4) starters back from last yr's #1 in the CAA against the pass secondary. Only lost Jonathon Williams who was kicked off the team. Don't think anyone else has gone down except for Jackson vs Maine with the hammy injury..

I would add one more negative. Losing Emmons was HUGE. I think that right there was the play of the game for JMU because it had a negative impact for JMU vs Maine and negative implications for JMU until he's back.

Feel so bad for him.
-He has to sit out 09' due to a transfer issue from West Point (straight A student) and take regular redshirt.
-Looks very good last season against Morehead and for 3 qtrs vs VT before going down for season & getting med redshirt.
-Goes down to minor knee injury in practice week before UNC and missed 1st 4 games. Was DOMINANT vs UR and was dominant for a qtr plus vs Maine before going down with another injury for who know how long, but didn't look good. More so than was showing up in the stats because he was often drawing double teams.

I believe IF he could stay healthy he woould be all CAA & an AA. The JMU defense is sooo much better with him. Now without Emmons for who knows how long and the other starting DT Sean O'Neil suffering season ending knee injury vs CCSU (at least he will get a redshirt) JMU is without both starting DTs. #3 and #4 Middleton (started 9 games last season all 6 this season) and Stanton are good, but there is a drop off after that. JMU defense is good up the middle without O'Neil and Emmons, just not dominant.

[mcveyrl]

Congrats to Maine. Was a hell of a game. The better team yesterday by a hair won.

Despite whatever sandbagging MaineJeff tries to do, that is a very good Maine team and Cosgrove is a good coach. Maine after a huge win at home vs UD follows that uyp with bringing their A game on a tough road trip. Me thinks they'll have a crappy game and lose to someone, but will finish 9-2/7-1 & win the CAA AQ. Probably their best team since their 02' 11-3 qtr final team.

Yea, Maine was very impressive Saturday. I have to admit that part of me chalked up the big point spread at UD to an outlier of a fourth quarter, but they're the real deal.

In a way, they remind me of JMU in 2004, but with a better passing attack. Both lines are solid, good running back and a QB that just gets it done. We focused on the run and gave up too much of the pass, but you could tell they are flexible enough to change run-pass ratios at will.

Congrats to the Black Bears...Too bad the CAA North is gone...this would be a good year for them...finally.

[JMU2004]

Maine was simply better when it counted on Sat.

I was impressed....hope we get to see them again.

[Tribal]

Gutsy call to seal it. Judging by the highlights, it looked like a great game.

Maine's TE is huge!

[YoUDeeMan]

Gutsy call to seal it. Judging by the highlights, it looked like a great game.

Maine's TE is huge!

We let him get away from our back yard.

[BDKJMU]

Congrats to Maine. Was a hell of a game. The better team yesterday by a hair won.

Despite whatever sandbagging MaineJeff tries to do, that is a very good Maine team and Cosgrove is a good coach. Maine after a huge win at home vs UD follows that uyp with bringing their A game on a tough road trip. Me thinks they'll have a crappy game and lose to someone, but will finish 9-2/7-1 & win the CAA AQ. Probably their best team since their 02' 11-3 qtr final team.

Yea, Maine was very impressive Saturday. I have to admit that part of me chalked up the big point spread at UD to an outlier of a fourth quarter, but they're the real deal.

In a way, they remind me of JMU in 2004, but with a better passing attack. Both lines are solid, good running back and a QB that just gets it done. We focused on the run and gave up too much of the pass, but you could tell they are flexible enough to change run-pass ratios at will.

Congrats to the Black Bears...Too bad the CAA North is gone...this would be a good year for them...finally.

Granted a better passing attack, but they don't have as good a run game as the 04' JMU team did, and their run defense isn't nearly as good.The JMU 04' run defense was pretty stout..